Symbol encoding apparatus and method

a symbol and encoding technology, applied in the field of symbol encoding apparatus and method, can solve the problems of difficult operation, difficult learning and operation of the chording keyboard, and unwelcome entry

Active Publication Date: 2015-07-07
RAJKOWSKI JANUSZ WIKTOR
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The invention is a new type of keyboard that uses a glancing motion to encode symbols. The keyboard has sensitive touch locations that the user can easily touch with their fingertip to enter a symbol. The keyboard is designed to guide the user's finger movements and provide feedback on where their finger is located. The keyboard is easy to operate, can be manufactured using common technologies, and can be used as a learning tool for the glancing method. The technical effects of the invention include a low actuation sensitivity threshold, a high degree of tactile feedback, and a flexible fence that allows the user to maintain proper position and distance between the fingertip and the touch locations of the actuators.

Problems solved by technology

Chording keyboards are difficult to learn and difficult to operate.
Difficult combinations of finger presses make operation a challenge.
Premature release or early operation of one of the keys in a combination, or an unwanted combination occurring during a transition, often results in unwanted entry.
This problem worsens with increased speed of operation.
There are problems in constructing a one-handed keyboard using single keystroke technology; namely, such a keyboard requires a large number of keys and those keys must fit in a small space.
Manual discrimination and actuation by the operator of a single target key among many other small keys is difficult and requires hand motions that are un-ergonomic, deliberate, tense, and slow.
Engaging in the sequence for each key press or switch actuation consumes the operator's time and effort.
Although this innovation makes the computer more portable, it is a costly compromise.
A virtual keyboard on a touch screen can provide only basic functionality to the computer and is ill suited for input of large amounts of data.
Such computers have no screen that can be touched and the conventional two-handed keyboard is not suitable for the mobile applications for which such computers are best adapted.
While the snap-action mechanism significantly enhances feedback, it also increases the spring tension and the actuator travel distance, effectively delaying the contact closure and slowing keyboard operation.

Method used

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Embodiment Construction

[0094]FIG. 1 illustrates a glance keypad. The glance keypad 102 is configured be operably connected to a computer 114, as in FIG. 60, and to encode a symbol selected from a set of symbols in response to a glancing touch, as defined above, by a fingertip 272 of the user. The glance keypad 102 of FIG. 1 includes a body 104 and four input-keys 106 supported on the body 104. The glance keypad 102 alternatively can be configured with less than four or more than four input-keys 106. Each of the input-keys 106 is configured to receive and engage one finger 268 of a human hand 260. Each input-key 106 includes a base 108 that may be the size of the perimeter 190, or larger, and a plurality of actuators 120. The base 108 of the input-key 106 and the body 104 of the glance keypad 102 may be one and the same. Each of the actuators 120 defines a touch location 122. A fence 238, illustrated as transparent on FIG. 1, is disposed about the perimeter 190 of each input-key 106 and engages the finger ...

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PUM

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Abstract

One hand operated device with the functionality of standard computer keyboard is provided. User encodes a symbol with a sweeping motion of a finger, “flicking” gently at one of plurality of touch sensitive actuators.

Description

I. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]A. Field of the Invention[0002]The Invention is an apparatus for manually encoding symbols for input to a computer using the fingers of one hand. The Invention is also a method of encoding symbols using the apparatus.[0003]B. Statement of the Related Art[0004]As used herein, the term “computer” means any device that includes a microprocessor with access to computer memory and that can be configured to convert signals from the apparatus of the Invention to corresponding symbols. By way of example and without limitation, the term ‘computer’ includes a mainframe computer, a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a notebook computer, a netbook computer, a tablet computer, a distributed computing system, a smart phone, a personal digital assistant, an embedded system, and any other system having a microprocessor with access to computer memory.[0005]The term ‘data input device’ means any apparatus that is capable of receiving an instruction manually from ...

Claims

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Application Information

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Patent Type & AuthorityPatents(United States)
IPC IPC(8): G06F3/02G06F3/023H01H13/84H01H13/85
CPCG06F3/0234G06F3/0202H01H13/85H01H13/84H01H2217/006H01H2217/018H01H2217/024
InventorRAJKOWSKI, JANUSZ WIKTOR
OwnerRAJKOWSKI JANUSZ WIKTOR